Funding to hundreds of community organisations and local governments across Australia that are battling gang violence and street crime have been threatened with the axe by the Abbott Coalition Government.

The $40 million National Crime Prevention Fund, comprehensively funded in Labor’s May budget, is on the Abbott Coalition Government’s hit list.

The Government has informed hundreds of community organisations around Australia that it is now reviewing all grant programs, and recipients should refrain from making any financial commitments.

“The Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan has made it clear that the Coalition went to the election with a clear policy - to redirect funding from the National Crime Prevention Fund to support its own election commitments,” said the Shadow Minister for Justice David Feeney.

“The Government’s inability to comprehend the vital importance of these grants to community organisations that prevent crime and help young people from falling off the tracks and getting involved in crime is unacceptable. These grants play a significant role in enhancing our community’s safety and increase its crime prevention capacity.”

“The Abbott Government’s disregard for the needs of these community organisations and its failure to honour these grants designed to empower not-for-profit groups and local government authorities are appalling,” said the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General Senator Singh.

Attorney-General, George Brandis, revealed in Senate Estimates last night that the Government will axe the National Crime Prevention Fund.

“To replace the hard work of community programs with a street camera just shows how out of touch this government is on crime prevention,” said Senator Singh.

“Despite 151 organisations being successful in the last round of the National Crime Prevention Fund grants, the Abbott Government would rather place a street camera on every corner”, said Senator Singh, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General.

“These are community groups who everyday work hard to ensure our young people live a life free of crime and gain vital employment skills.

“The Abbott Government would rather clean up after crime occurs than prevent the crime taking place in the first place,” said Senator Singh.